James Claibourne West

In Memory of USAF Veteran, Delta Captain James C. West, Jr. June 24, 2940-August 8, 2018. Captain James C. West, Jr. aka JC the AC, Jimmy Jet, Black Jack Shellac passed away August 8, 2018 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Jim was a tidewater boy, born in Richmond, Virginia and raised in Norfolk, Virginia where he graduated from Norview High School. He went to college at Virginia Military Institute (VMI), entered the ROTC Program and graduated in the class of 1962. He joined the Air Force in 1963 and was assigned to undergraduate pilot training class 64xI, Laughlin AFB, Del Rio, Texas from July 15, 1963-May 28, 1964. From there, he was assigned to MAC, 17th Squadron, Charleston, S.C. where he flew C124’s (Old Shakey) taking cargo/supplies all over the world including Vietnam during the war. The world was exposed to his sense of humor…an example comes to mind…when approaching Chateauroux AFB, France, the call to the tower was “Chateauroux, Chateauroux, this is 952. How do you do?” Jim resigned from the Air Force in February 1969 and immediately joined Delta Airlines, Class of March 1969. He flew Delta for 31 years flying DC-9’s, 727’s, L1O11’s, 757’s, 767’s and was a flight instructor for 5 years. Jim was known for his wit, great sense of humor and ready smile. Family and friends will miss him dearly; but he will always be remembered as the man he was. A Celebration of Jim’s Life will take place on Saturday, September 29th at 4 o’clock pm at Silverthorn Country Club 4550 Golf Club Lane, Brooksville, Fl 34609. Please RSVP to Mike or Mary Armstrong at 352-293-3290. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions made in his honor to VMI Scholarship Fund, Lexington, VA. 24450 The family has entrusted Jim’s care and services to Demarco Family Funeral Home 5399 Commercial Way, Spring Hill, FL. 34606

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